Phil Jagielka believes he can become a regular England centre-back and establish himself as a leader of the side as Roy Hodgson looks to settle on a first-choice pairing at the heart of defence before autumn's World Cup qualifiers.

With Rio Ferdinand having joined John Terry in international retirement the England manager will hope the friendlies against Republic of Ireland on Wednesday at Wembley and against Brazil at the Maracaña on Sunday can help him decide who should make up the partnership, with England looking to claw back a two-point deficit to Montenegro with four games left in Group H.

In England's six previous outings Hodgson has not fielded the same two starting centre-backs in consecutive matches. Owing to injury Jagielka won the last of his 16 caps in October's 1-1 draw with Poland; even though he played down Ferdinand and Terry being out of the picture the 30-year-old, who is Everton's captain, is keen to show he can be a leader.

"It is part and parcel of the role," Jagielka said. "It is something I have to develop and have learned over the past five or six seasons at Everton. I am quite vocal on the pitch so it comes as a natural progression, if selected, to have that role. The first job is to get myself in the starting XI. If that is the case I will try to play the game similar to the way I do at Everton, which I have done for the last few games as captain. I have had to have that role for my club."

Jagielka, who is among the more self-deprecating Premier League footballers, enjoys being vocal when playing. "Once I am comfortable in a place I am quite a loud person anyway. It does come quite naturally to me. That is the way I play. If you ask my central defensive partners and full-backs who have played alongside me, I do try and talk as much as possible."

Hodgson has also selected Joleon Lescott, Phil Jones and Gary Cahill for the friendlies. In a training session at St George's Park, Jagielka was paired with Cahill at the start, though with Hodgson switching both sets of full-backs during the same phase this may offer little clue as to who may start against Ireland.

Jagielka played down the friendlies as being a chance to show Hodgson his abilities, but he is aware of what a good performance could lead to. "Maybe I am putting too much pressure on myself if I look in the mirror and say: 'Best liven up'. I will come and play and if I get the opportunity I will play as well as I can.

"If he keeps me in the team I will be absolutely delighted and if I do not get the opportunity I will keep working hard and go from there. I am not going to put too much pressure on myself. I will take it as it comes and hopefully if you speak to me in a year's time I will have had a few more caps. And maybe I will be a little more arrogant."

This last remark was a light-hearted acknowledgment of how David Moyes, his soon-to-be former manager, has stated he believes Jagielka lacks the confidence that usually comes with a player of his ability. "Obviously he sees me day in, day out. If that was his view, it can't be far off," Jagielka said.

"I have never thought of myself as being particularly shy or lacking self-confidence but I can understand what he means. It is not in my character to be super-confident. That is the way I am.

"I do understand what he is saying. I probably do play better when I am a bit more arrogant. But that is not really the person I am and I don't think it will be the person I turn into."

There is, though, a maturity that gives Jagielka a quiet self-confidence. "When you start out, in the early years, you do not want to pick up the paper if you have not had the best of games," he said.

"But I have grown up, I have a family and I understand the role of playing for England.

"In this game you can learn over the years and I am still learning. I am not the youngest player but it helps when you learn from your mistakes and learn from the people you play with.

"I had a good season, I am not getting any younger, and hopefully next season will be even better."